Whitby MP Slams Inadequate Train Services As Among The Worst In The Country

Whitby’s Member of Parliament, Alison Hume, has criticised the town’s poor rail connectivity to Middlesbrough, comparing the lack of investment unfavourably to other seaside towns despite rising passenger numbers.

Commuters and residents in Whitby are being let down by poor rail links, according to the town’s Member of Parliament, Alison Hume.

Despite the Hollywood fame of one of its stations, the current rail service connecting Whitby to Middlesbrough has been described as one of the worst in the country.

Speaking in a Westminster Hall debate, Ms Hume highlighted the town's inadequate rail services, stating that historical cuts by government minister Dr Beeching, rather than the fictional Lord Voldemort, are to blame for the poor connectivity frustrating local commuters.

Speaking about the picturesque Esk Valley railway line, Alison Hume said:

"When it comes to transport links for small towns, there are few which can boast the train which will take you to Hogsmeade station, where the Hogwart Express ended its journey north from platform nine and three quarters.

The real life Goathland station, which starred in the Harry Potter films, is just one of the beautiful stations on the Whitby to Middlesborough Esk Valley railway line, which follows the route of the river Esk for much of its 24 miles passing through verdant farmland, rolling wars and picturesque villages.

But sadly the scenery is far more beautiful than the train service. The villain of the piece is not Lord Voldemort, but Dr. Beeching, the government minister who cut the Whitby to Scarborough line back in 1965, condemning Whitby to reliance on the car and the bus.

That Whitby lost its train link to its coastal neighbour is bad enough, but to add insult to injury, the current service, which connects Whitby to the nearest big town, Middlesbrough, is one of the worst in the country."

The MP noted that the not-for-profit Esk Valley Railway Development Company had fought hard to open a station at James Cook Hospital in 2014, but the current timetable leaves significant gaps for passengers.

Highlighting the impact on patients and workers, Ms Hume said:

"The current service, which connects Whitby to the nearest big town, Middlesbrough, is one of the worst in the country.

This is not the fault of the not-for-profit Esk Valley Railway Development Company, indeed they fought hard to get a station opened at James Cook Hospital in 2014 to provide access to the hospital, but there are only six trains a day with four hour gaps in the morning and afternoon. That makes it impossible to plan for a hospital appointment.

I have constituents who tell me they have to stay over at Middlesbrough because they simply can't get to and from the hospital in a day, and it's not only hospital patients who are totally frustrated by the poor service, but constituents who want to work in Middlesbrough where there are many more employment opportunities than in Whitby."

The lack of investment in Whitby's transport links becomes apparent when compared to similar coastal destinations.

Ms Hume explained the disparity in funding and services:

"The lack of ambition investment in this essential transport link for Whitby is laid bare when compared with another seaside town in the south. Newquay in Cornwall is not unlike Whitby in size and is also at the end of a branch line. ORR figures show that in 2023 24, the Newquay line carried 146,000 passengers down 2%, while that to Whitby carried 257,000 up 6.3%. Until recently, both lines suffered from poor train services, but now Newquay has 15 trains on weekdays, 14 on Saturdays, and 8 on Sundays, thanks to a 57 million pound investment. On the same day, Whitby just has six trains."

Parliamentary Under-Secretary at Department for Transport, Simon Lightwood MP, said:

"Connecting small towns is critical for the wider economy. Reliable commuter rail services can transform opportunities, making it easier for people to access jobs in nearby cities while continuing to live in the communities that they value.

We are working with industry partners to improve the reliability and performance of commuter routes and ensure that smaller stations are not overlooked. That includes looking at how timetables, capacity and infrastructure can better support passengers travelling to and from smaller towns."